Messe Düsseldorf enters the Indian foundry market: The Bright World of Metals cooperates with Inter Foundry 2026

Messe Düsseldorf is entering the Indian foundry market with its four world-leading trade fairs GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST – collectively known as The Bright World of Metals – and has signed a landmark cooperation agreement with Inter Foundry, the international trade fair for the ferrous, non-ferrous and aluminium foundry industry in India. The next edition will take place from 10 to 12 September 2026 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore.

With this step, Messe Düsseldorf is underlining its international growth strategy and further expanding its role as a leading platform for the global metallurgy and foundry industries. India is the world’s third-largest casting producer and, with an annual GDP growth rate of around 6 to 7 percent (source: WFO Global Foundry Report 2024), boasts the highest economic growth among major industrial nations. This drives a growing demand for modern investments in foundry equipment, automation and environmental technologies. In addition, Coimbatore is considered one of India’s leading production centres with more than 600 foundries and numerous component manufacturers. These are ideal conditions for international companies in the metallurgy sector to enter a rapidly developing market, particularly in aluminium casting and light metals, which are in high demand in the automotive and energy industries.

Inter Foundry positions itself as a central international platform for the foundry industry with a special focus on South Asia. Every two years, it brings together the entire value chain – from foundries and suppliers to pioneers in automation, digitalisation and material innovations. At the same time, Inter DieCast, the trade fair for die casting technologies, complements the portfolio, forming a powerful trade fair duo that represents the entire foundry and die casting industries, including the aluminium sector.

As part of the cooperation with Inter Foundry 2026 – held under the title “powered by The Bright World of Metals and Messe Düsseldorf”, Messe Düsseldorf contributes its international sales expertise as well as its decades of experience in organising leading trade fairs. This will significantly increase the international visibility of Inter Foundry and establish it as a key entry platform into the Indian market. With the success of METEC India, wire India and Tube India, the company has already demonstrated how international leading trade fairs can be developed and expanded in the Indian market.

“India is one of the most dynamic growth markets for the international foundry industry. With Inter Foundry, we are offering our partners and exhibitors from The Bright World of Metals an excellent platform to tap into new business opportunities and build valuable contacts. At the same time, this cooperation marks the first step in continuously expanding our engagement in the Indian foundry market and establishing our trade fair business there in the long term,” explains Malte Seifert, Director Metals & Autonomous Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf.

The last edition of Inter Foundry in 2024 attracted 220 exhibitors and around 8,000 trade visitors. More than 88 percent of exhibitors have already confirmed their participation in the upcoming event – a strong signal of the importance of the fair. On 13,500 square metres, companies presented the latest technologies, materials and services and used the event as a catalyst for innovation and as a platform for business initiation and exchange.

“India's rapid economic growth presents enormous opportunities for the global foundry industry. As industrial demand accelerates and infrastructure expands, the country is emerging as a key market for innovation, investment and collaboration. Our cooperation with The Bright World of Metals further strengthens Inter Foundry's position as a leading platform connecting Indian and international stakeholders. This cooperation opens doors for foreign companies to explore and succeed in the dynamic Indian market,” says Ashwani Pande, CEO, VA Exhibitions Pvt Ltd.